JPH11265182A - Control method for plural sound source drivers, record medium recording program for control for plural sound source drivers and control method for plural generation programs - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch an MIDI driver for generating musical waveform data even during play. SOLUTION: By installing an integrated driver 3 in an operating system(OS) 2, the integrated driver is located under an interface IF 3 prepared for the OS 2. MIDI driver 1-3 can be used only by being registered in the integrated driver, and an MIDI message received from the music software 1 is assorted to the MIDI drivers by the integrated driver 3. Therefore, the MIDI drivers for generating the musical waveform data can be switched over by the integrated driver 3 even during play.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers capable of integrally controlling a plurality of different tone generator drivers, a recording medium storing a control program for the plurality of tone generator drivers, The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a plurality of registered generation programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the arithmetic performance of a microprocessor (CPU) has been remarkably improved, and such a high-performance CPU is mounted on a general-purpose computer or a dedicated tone generator. Therefore, a musical tone waveform data is generated by causing a general-purpose computer or a dedicated musical tone generator to execute a predetermined musical tone generation processing program. Also, generation of musical tone waveform data by dedicated hardware having a circuit configuration corresponding to a musical tone generation method has been performed continuously conventionally.

FIG. 1 shows a software structure of a conventional sound source system using computer software.
3 is shown. As an operating system (OS) 101 of this sound source system, for example, Windows
95 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) is used. This O
S101 is an interface IF1 (MIDI out API) capable of transmitting and receiving a MIDI message that is performance information for generating musical sound waveform data, and an interface IF.
2 (MIDI out API) as well as an interface IF3 (WAVE out API) capable of transmitting and receiving the generated musical sound waveform data.

In the example shown in the figure, an interface IF1 (MIDI out API) is a so-called software sound source that generates a musical tone waveform data by causing a processing device having a CPU to execute a predetermined musical sound generation processing program. (Hereinafter, referred to as “soft sound source”), and an interface IF2 (MIDI out API) is used to generate musical sound waveform data by dedicated hardware having a circuit configuration corresponding to a musical sound generation method. It is used as an interface of a so-called hardware sound source (hereinafter referred to as “hard sound source”).

[0005] The music software 100 that generates MIDI messages is located at the application layer, and generates performance information in the form of MIDI messages in real time. MIDI driver 2 (hard sound source) and MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) are MIDI drivers installed in OS 101, and
The driver 2 is a MIDI driver for a hardware tone generator, and supplies musical tone generation data based on a MIDI message to an external hardware tone generator 103. Furthermore, MID
The I driver 3 is one in which a software sound source, which is application software, is installed in the OS 101.

In the case shown in FIG. 13, the MIDI message generated by the music software 100 is
Interface IF1 (MIDI out A
PI) via the MIDI driver 3. The MI that received the MIDI message
The DI driver 3 executes a process of generating musical tone waveform data based on the received MIDI message, and transmits the generated musical tone waveform data to the interface IF3 (WAVE out A
WA installed on OS 101 via PI)
It is passed to the VE driver 1. WAVE driver 1
Reads out the tone waveform data stored in the buffer memory via a direct memory access (DMA) controller, and reads a codec (CO) as external hardware.
DEC) 105. In the codec 105,
The musical tone waveform data is converted into an analog musical tone signal and emitted from a sound system (not shown).

In the MIDI driver 3, 1
One or more musical tone waveform data generation operations are performed within a frame period, and one frame of musical tone waveform data is generated. The generated tone waveform data is stored in the buffer memory. In this case, the MIDI driver 3 generates one frame of tone waveform data while time-managing the delay time of the generation operation and the tone waveform data generation amount per unit time. The library 32 of the MIDI driver 3 stores a group of general-purpose modules (subroutines) such as a digital filter, an interpolator, and a mixer that can be used for generating and calculating musical tone waveform data. Utilizing it, musical tone waveform data having musical characteristics such as required pitches and timbres are generated.

[0008]

In the conventional sound source system using the computer shown in FIG. 13, a MIDI message generated by the music
Interface IF1 (MIDI 0) provided in S101
ut API) to receive the MIDI driver 1. Also, by being programmed in advance, the MIDI message generated by the music software 100 can be transmitted to the interface I provided in the OS 101.
The MIDI driver 2 can receive the data via F2 (MIDI out API). In this case, the MID
The I driver 2 gives the tone generation data based on the MIDI message to the external hardware tone generator 103 so that the tone waveform generated by the hardware tone generator 103 is emitted.

However, in the conventional tone generator system, since the MIDI driver to be used only before the performance can be set, the MID can be dynamically set during the performance.
There is a problem that the I driver cannot be switched. Therefore, for example, in a predetermined part, it is not possible to generate musical tone waveform data using only different sound sources for a certain performance portion and emit the sound waveform data. Further, the conventional sound source system cannot use a MIDI driver that is not registered (installed) in the OS. When used, it can be used by installing a MIDI driver in the OS. However, MIDI
When the driver was installed in the OS, the system had to be restarted, and a complicated operation was required.

[0010] Further, when a musical tone is generated by a software tone generator, a WAVE driver is required. There was a risk of running out of drivers. In this case, there is a problem that a new WAVE driver cannot be opened. Furthermore, when a plurality of MIDI drivers configured by software sound sources are used, time management according to the delay time of the generation calculation of the tone waveform data and the amount of tone waveform data generation per unit time is described. Was not considered.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method of controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers which can be used without registering a MIDI driver in the OS and which can dynamically switch MIDI drivers during performance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a control program for a sound source driver is recorded. Further, the present invention can reduce the number of WAVE drivers required even when a plurality of MIDI drivers are used, and can provide a plurality of tone generator drivers that do not need to perform time management of musical tone waveform data for each MIDI driver. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method and a recording medium on which a control program for a plurality of sound source drivers is recorded. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a control method capable of integrating and managing a plurality of tone generator drivers.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers according to the present invention comprises: a first application programming device provided with an operating system for storing performance data generated from application level music software; An integrated driver installed in the operating system receives the data through the interface and distributes the performance data to one or a plurality of tone generators registered in the integrated driver. Is
Along with generating musical tone waveform data according to the distributed performance data, the generated musical tone waveform data is sent to the integrated driver means, and the integrated driver means sets the sampling frequency of the transmitted musical tone waveform data to a reference sampling frequency. In addition to the conversion, the musical sound waveform data is added to the musical sound waveform data at the same time position, and the added musical sound waveform data is reproduced at a reference sampling frequency to generate a musical sound. According to the present invention, it is possible to freely add or delete a sound source driver having a different sampling frequency of generated musical tone waveform data. Further, even if a sound source driver is added, it is not necessary to increase the number of interfaces of the operating system for supplying performance data.

[0013] In the method of controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers, the reproducing outputs the added musical tone waveform data at a reference sampling period via a second interface provided in the operating system. The processing is performed by passing the data to a wave driver installed in the operating system. According to the present invention, even if a sound source driver is added, it is not necessary to increase the number of interfaces of the operating system that outputs musical tone waveform data.

Further, according to the present invention, in a recording medium on which a control program for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers is recorded, the control program stores performance data generated from music software and an operating system. Receiving, via a first application programming interface, integrated driver means installed in the operating system,
The performance data is stored in the one registered in the integrated driver means.
Or a step of distributing the tone waveform data generated by the one or more sound source driver means to the integrated driver means in accordance with the distributed performance data;
Converting the sampling frequency of the tone waveform data sent to the integrated driver means into a reference sampling frequency, aligning the time positions of the tone waveform data and adding the tone waveform data; And a control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers which causes a computer device to execute the step of outputting.

In the control program, in the outputting step, the added musical tone waveform data is transmitted to a wave driver installed in the operating system by a second application programming interface provided in the operating system. And output by the wave driver means. According to the invention relating to the recording medium described above, it is possible to freely add or delete a sound source driver having a different sampling frequency of generated musical tone waveform data. Further, even if a sound source driver is added, it is not necessary to increase the number of interfaces of the operating system for supplying performance data.

Further, the method of controlling a plurality of generation programs according to the present invention, which can achieve the above object, comprises a step of registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with respective performance data; A step of specifying a generation program to which performance data of each performance part is to be supplied based on the tone color selection information for each performance part; and a step of specifying the performance data of a plurality of parts to be input. And a step of receiving a plurality of tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generation programs, mixing and outputting the data. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to dynamically distribute input performance data to a plurality of registered generation programs in accordance with the performance parts.

Still further, another method of controlling a plurality of generation programs according to the present invention includes the steps of: registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with the respective performance data; Detecting the operation delay time from when the performance data is supplied to the tone waveform data to be generated until the effect appears, and distributes the input performance data to the plurality of generation programs, and Supplying a plurality of tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generation programs after a time delay corresponding to the calculation delay time of each generation program; and mixing and outputting the plurality of tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generation programs. ing. According to the present invention, a plurality of musical tone waveform data respectively generated by a plurality of generation programs having different operation delay times can be synchronously reproduced with reference to the timing of inputting performance data.

Still another method of controlling a plurality of generation programs according to the present invention includes a step of receiving performance data generated from application-level music software via a first interface provided in an operating system; Registering the generator, and for the plurality of registered generators,
Opening independent interfaces,
Distributing the performance data received via the first interface to the plurality of generation programs;
And a step of receiving a plurality of tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generation programs based on the supplied performance data, mixing and outputting the plurality of tone waveform data, respectively. According to the present invention, since the interface is opened in correspondence with the registered generation program, the number of generation programs to be registered can be arbitrarily increased or decreased.

Further, in the method of controlling a plurality of generation programs, the registering step may register a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program as the generation program, and the opening step may include the standard-compliant generation program. Open a unique interface independent of the operating system for the generating program, open a second interface of the operating system for the non-standard compliant generating program, and supply the distributed performance data. The generator may be supplied via the unique interface for a standard-compliant generation program, and may be supplied via the second interface for a non-standard-compliant generator. According to the present invention, it is possible to play an ensemble with a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program. Further, for a standard-compliant generation program, the number of interfaces of the operating system does not need to be increased, and shortage of interfaces can be prevented.

Still another method of controlling a plurality of generation programs according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving performance data generated from music software at an application level via a first interface provided in an operating system; Opening independent transmission paths for each of the generated programs,
Distributing performance data received via the first interface to the plurality of generation programs and supplying the performance data; and generating a plurality of tone waveforms respectively generated by the plurality of generation programs based on the supplied performance data. Receiving the data via the transmission paths respectively corresponding to the respective generation programs, mixing and outputting the received plurality of tone waveform data. According to such an invention, since an independent transmission path is opened for the registered generation program, the number of generation programs to be registered can be arbitrarily increased or decreased.

Further, in the method of controlling a plurality of generation programs, the registering step may register a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program as the generation program, and the opening step may include the standard-compliant generation program. Opening a unique transmission path independent of the operating system for the generation program, opening a second interface of the operating system for the non-standard-compliant generation program, and outputting the standard-compliant generation program The tone waveform data generated by the program may be received via the unique transmission path, and the tone waveform data generated by the non-standard-compliant generation program may be received via the second interface. According to such an invention, it is possible to play an ensemble with a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program. It should be noted that for a standard-compliant generation program, the number of interfaces of the operating system does not need to be increased, and shortage of interfaces can be prevented.

Still another control method of a plurality of generation programs of the present invention is a step of registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with performance data, respectively, and Distributing the distributed performance data to each of the plurality of registered generation programs, and generating individual triggers for each of the registered plurality of generation programs; Receiving and mixing and outputting a plurality of tone waveform data corresponding to a plurality of generation programs generated by each generation program executing the generation process; and Are compared with each other, and the step of generating And a step of controlling to generate a trigger preferentially for the situation of the lagging generator. According to such an invention, since the generation statuses of the plurality of generation programs are managed collectively, it is possible to balance among the plurality of generation programs.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a software structure in a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers of the present invention using computer software. In this software structure, for example, Windows 95 (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) is used as the operating system (OS) 2. OS2 in FIG. 1 is MIDI (musical inst.) Which is performance information for generating musical sound waveform data.
rument digital interface) interface IF1 (MIDI out API) capable of exchanging messages and interface IF2 (MIDI out API), and interface IF3 (exchangeable) capable of exchanging generated musical sound waveform data. WAVE out AP
I) and interface IF4 (WAVE out AP
I).

The music software 1 for generating a MIDI message is located at an application layer, and generates performance information in the form of a MIDI message in real time. This MIDI message is received by the integrated driver 3, which is a feature of the present invention, via an interface IF1 (MIDI out API) prepared as one of the multimedia functions of the OS2. By installing the integrated driver 3 in the OS 2, the functions of the interface IF1 and the interface IF3 shown in FIG. The MIDI message received by the integrated driver 3 is distributed for each part, and the MIDI driver 1 (hard tone generator), the MIDI driver 2 (soft tone generator), and the MIDI driver 3 (soft tone generator) conforming to the standard are not compliant with the standard. MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source).

At this time, the MIDI drivers 1 to 3 are registered in the integrated driver 3 so that the integrated driver 3 has interfaces IF10 (MIDI out API) and IF11.
(MIDI out API) and IF12 (MIDI out API).
I), IF11 (MIDI out API), IF12 (MIDI outA
PI), a MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source), a MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source),
The distributed MIDI message is provided to the driver 3 (software sound source). The non-standard MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source) has an interface I prepared by installing the driver in the OS 2.
A MIDI message distributed via F2 (MIDI out API) is provided.

It should be noted that the MIDI driver 4 that is not compliant with the standard
The (soft sound source) is used by being installed in the OS2. On the other hand, the standard-compliant MIDI driver 1
(Hard sound source), MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source),
The MIDI driver 3 (software sound source) can be installed and used in the OS 2, or can be used only by registering it in the integrated driver 3 without installing it in the OS 2. When a standard-compliant MIDI driver is registered and used in the integrated driver 3, it can be used immediately without restarting the operating system, and complicated installation work can be omitted. Also, the MIDI driver 1 is a MIDI driver for a hardware tone generator.
The DI driver controls the tone generation operation of the hardware tone generator 10 based on the MIDI message supplied through the interface IF 10. In addition, MIDI
The driver 2 (soft sound source) and the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) are drivers constituted by soft sound sources.

Then, the interface IF11 (MIDI out API) and IF12 (MIDI out A
The MIDI message via the PI) is transmitted to the MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source) and the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source).
MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source), MI
The DI driver 3 (software sound source) is a timer processing unit 4 in the integrated tool library 4 prepared in the integrated driver 3.
The arithmetic processing is executed upon receiving a trigger generated at a predetermined cycle from -2. Then, tone waveform data of a predetermined data amount is generated. The musical tone waveform data generated by the MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source)
Is sent to the WAVE processing means 4-1 in the integrated tool library 4 prepared in the integrated driver 3. The musical tone waveform data generated by the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) is directly transmitted via the stream 2
It is sent to the WAVE processing means 4-1 in the integrated tool library 4 prepared in the integrated driver 3.

Further, a MIDI driver 4 that does not conform to the standard
The (soft sound source) performs arithmetic processing using the MIDI message given through the interface IF2, and the musical tone waveform data generated by the MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source) is transferred to the interface IF3 (MIDI out API) prepared in the OS2. ) Is sent to the WAVE processing means 4-1 in the integrated tool library 4 prepared in the integrated driver 3. The WAVE processing means 4-1 converts the sampling frequency Fs of the received tone waveform data into a predetermined sampling frequency;
When a plurality of musical tone waveform data are received, a process of adding the musical tone waveform data at the same time is performed.
If a plurality of received musical tone waveform data have a common sampling frequency Fs, a necessary amount of calculation can be reduced by first adding them to each other and then performing sampling frequency conversion. .

The tone waveform data on which the addition processing has been performed is 1
When the number of frames reaches one, the tone waveform data for one frame is stored in the buffer memory, and the WAVE driver 1 makes a reservation for reproduction. In this case, the tone waveform data is sent from the WAVE processing means 4-1 to the WAVE driver 1 via the interface IF4 (WAVE out API) prepared in the OS2. Thereby, MI
Even if a plurality of DI drivers are used, only one WAVE driver needs to be used, and shortage of WAVE drivers can be prevented.

Further, the integrated driver 3 checks the progress of the musical tone waveform data received from the stream 1 and the stream 2 while managing the delay time of the generation operation and the musical tone waveform data generation amount per unit time. Thus, the priority of the trigger generated by the timer processing means 4-2 is controlled. Also, this priority is assigned to each M
The determination may be made according to a calculation delay time until the tone waveform data is generated in the IDI driver.
The integrated tool library 4 is provided as a dynamic link library (DLL) that is called when the integrated driver 3 is started.

By the way, the standard-compliant MIDI driver 2
(Soft sound source) and musical sound waveform data generated by the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) are stream 1 and stream 2 by the amount of data generated by receiving a trigger.
Is transmitted to the WAVE processing means 4-1 via the MIDI driver 2.
(Soft sound source) and MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source). On the other hand, non-compliant MIDI
In the driver 4 (soft sound source), time management of the generated tone waveform data is performed, and when one frame of tone waveform data is generated, the WAVE processing means 4-1.
Will be sent to For this reason, the standard-compliant MIDI
In the driver, the time management of the musical tone waveform data can be centrally performed by the WAVE processing means 4-1. Not only does it become unnecessary for each MIDI driver to separately manage the time, but also a plurality of MIDI drivers operating in parallel. MIDI
Optimal control can be performed on the driver.

By the way, when the music software 1 as an application issues an open request to the integrated driver 3, the stream 1 and the stream 2
The MIDI driver registered in the integrated driver 3 is detected, and the corresponding stream is opened. The stream 1 and the stream 2 are like channels capable of transmitting musical tone waveform data at a specified speed and bit width. The streams are given priorities, and the WAVE processing means 4-1 processes the transmitted tone waveform data in the order of the higher priorities. This priority is preferably determined according to the importance of the part to which the musical tone waveform data transmitted in the stream is assigned.

Then, the WAVE driver 1 for which the reproduction of the musical tone waveform data is reserved by the WAVE processing means 4-1,
A waveform sampler is read out from a buffer memory via a direct memory access (DMA) controller so that a reproduced output for each sample can be output, and a codec (CODEC) 1 which is hardware for waveform input / output is provided.
Feed to 1. In the codec 11, the waveform sample is converted into an analog musical tone signal and emitted from a sound system (not shown). Further, the waveform sample generated in the hard sound source 10 is also emitted from a sound system (not shown).

The library 32 prepared in the integrated tool library 4 is general-purpose, and is a group of general-purpose modules (subroutines) such as a digital filter, an interpolator, and a mixer which can be used for generating and calculating musical tone waveform data. Each MIDI driver conforming to the standard uses this general-purpose module group to generate musical sound waveform data having musical characteristics such as required pitches and timbres. In such a software structure, for example, when the MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source) is a physical model sound source that simulates a natural musical instrument and the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) is a waveform memory sound source, it corresponds to the solo part. The MIDI message is distributed to the MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source), and the MIDI message corresponding to the accompaniment part is distributed.
It is preferable to distribute the DI message to the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source).

The MIDI driver conforming to the standard is O
The driver can be used by registering it in the integrated driver 3 without installing it as a driver in S2, and since the MIDI message is distributed by the integrated driver 3, the MIDI driver in each part even during the performance is performed. Can be switched. Therefore, it is possible to generate and play musical tone waveform data for only a part of a part by a different MIDI driver, thereby enabling various forms of performance.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration used for implementing a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers using the computer software of the present invention. In the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a microprocessor (CPU) used as a main control unit.
Under the above control, the method for controlling a plurality of sound source drivers according to the present invention is executed as control processing of a plurality of sound source drivers by a control program for the plurality of sound source drivers. At the same time, processes of other application programs and the like are executed in parallel. A read-only memory (RO) 22 stores a control program executed by the CPU 21 and the like.
M) and 23 are a random access memory (RAM) in which a work area of the CPU 21 and an area in which programs and performance data read from the hard disk 26 or the removable disk 27 as an external storage device are loaded are set. Reference numeral 24 denotes a timer configured by hardware for instructing the CPU 21 on the timing of timer interrupt processing.

Further, 25 is another MIDI (musical inst
rument digital interface) The performance data such as MIDI message is input from the device, and the generated MIDI
MIDI that outputs DI messages to other MIDI devices
Reference numeral 26 denotes a hard disk capable of recording application software, MIDI performance data and the like, and 27 denotes a hard disk 26
This is a removable disk on which application software, MIDI performance data, and the like can be recorded. Further, 28 is a display (monitor) for displaying application screens, various setting screens and the like, and 29 is a so-called personal computer having keys such as alphabets, kana, numbers and symbols, line feed keys and page break keys. A keyboard and a mouse that can be designated by freely moving or clicking a pointer displayed on the screen of the display unit 28.

Further, reference numeral 30 denotes a waveform interface for reading out the musical tone waveform data stored in the RAM 3 at a sampling cycle, converting the data into an analog signal, and then emitting a sound from a sound system (not shown). It should be noted that the sound system may be provided with an effect circuit for imparting effects such as reverb and chorus to the tone signal. Reference numeral 36 denotes a hardware tone generator prepared by hardware dedicated to musical tone generation, performs a plurality of time-division channel operations based on an instruction from the CPU 21, and generates and outputs a plurality of musical tones. Each hardware is connected to the CPU bus 2
0 are connected to each other. The above configuration is equivalent to the configuration of a personal computer, a workstation or the like, and the control method of the multiple sound source driver of the present invention can be executed by a general-purpose computer.

In the above hardware configuration, L
A communication interface for connecting to a server computer via a communication network such as an AN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or a telephone line may be provided. An FD, which is a recording medium storing a control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers according to the present invention.
D or a CD-ROM is set in a drive device prepared as an external storage device, and a control program for a plurality of sound source drivers is installed in a hard disk 26 or a removable disk 27. Control processing may be performed.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the waveform interface 30 shown in FIG. 2. The waveform interface 30 converts an input waveform input from a microphone or the like into a digital signal into an analog-to-digital converter (AD).
C) 31, a first direct memory access controller (DMAC1) 32 for sequentially writing digital data converted by the ADC 31 to the RAM 23 one sample at each sampling period (1 / Fs),
Buffer memories WB1 to WB set in RAM 23
The second direct memory access controller (DMAC2) 34 and the second direct memory access controller 34 sequentially read out the tone waveform data in frame units stored in B5 one sample at a time in a sampling cycle (1 / Fs). A digital-analog converter (DAC) 35 for converting the output musical sound waveform data into an analog musical sound signal, and a sampling frequency Fs to be provided to the first direct memory access controller 32 and the second direct memory access controller 34
Generator 33 which generates a sampling pulse having a period of
It is composed of Note that the CO described with reference to FIG.
The DEC 11 is an ADC 31 of the waveform interface 30.
And the name of an integrated circuit that realizes the function of the DAC 35.

In the RAM 23, the WAVE processing means 4-1 writes musical tone waveform data.
In the illustrated example, for example, the buffer memory WB
1, WB2, WB3, and WB4 store the completed tone waveform data for one frame.
B5 stores tone waveform data in the process of creating tone waveform data for one frame. The tone waveform data stored in the buffer memories WB1, WB2, WB3, and WB4 is sampled by the second direct memory access controller 34 on the basis of the sampling pulse generated by the Fs generator 33 (1/1/2).
Each time Fs), the musical tone waveform data is sequentially read out one sample at a time.

Next, an embodiment of a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers using computer software will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart (HTG driver main) of a main routine of the MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source) for the hard sound source executed by the CPU 21. When the MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source) is installed as a driver in the OS 2, the main routine is executed when the OS 2 is started.
If the MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source) is registered in the integrated driver 3, the MIDI driver 1 is started when the integrated driver 3 instructs the driver to open.
When this main routine is started, initialization of the hardware sound source is performed in step S10. In this initialization, the tone generator register is cleared and the hardware tone generator 10 is initialized.

When the initial setting is completed, a starting factor is checked in step S11. As the activation factor,
There are the following factors: Interface IF 10 provided in integrated driver 3
(MIDI out API) is supplied with a MIDI message. That is, the MIDI message is supplied from the music software 1. An input event on the sound source setting panel displayed on the display 28 and a command input event on the keyboard 29 are detected. Also, a timer event has been input. The main routine end command has been entered.

Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned activation factor exists, and the process of step S11 is repeatedly performed until any of the activation factors 1 to 7 occurs. Then, when it is determined in step S12 that there is an activation factor, it is determined in step S13 which of the above activation factors, and processing according to the activation factor is performed. For example, if it is detected that an activation factor has occurred,
Proceeding to step S14, the MIDI process is performed, and if it is detected that a start-up factor has occurred, the process proceeds to step S15, where other processes are performed. If the start-up factor is detected, the process proceeds to step S16 and ends. Processing is performed.

The MIDI process performed in step S14 includes a note-on process based on a note-on event of a MIDI message and a note-off process based on a note-off event. In the note-on processing, a channel is assigned to a hard tone generator in response to a note-on event input, and a tone parameter corresponding to the input note-on is set in a register set for the assigned channel. , A note-on is instructed for the same channel. In the channel of the hardware sound source, generation of a musical tone based on the musical tone parameter is started in response to the note-on. The parameters to be set are determined according to the selected timbre of the performance part, the pitch specified by the note-on event, and the velocity specified by the note-on event. In the note-off process, a channel in which a musical tone corresponding to a note-off event is being generated is searched for from among the channels of the hard sound source, and note-off is instructed to the found channel. When a program change is supplied, a process of changing the selected timbre of the specified performance part to the timbre specified by the program change is performed.

Further, in the other processing performed in step S15, a sound source control panel is displayed on the display unit 28, a tone selection process of a hard sound source, a musical tone, and the like in accordance with an operation on the sound source control panel. Parameter control is performed. Further, when a timer event is input, an LF for adding vibrato to a musical tone according to the timer event is provided.
O control, envelope control, and the like are performed. When the processing of step S14 or step S15 ends, the process returns to step S11, and the processing of steps S11 to S15 is repeatedly performed. And
When the activation factor is detected, the process branches to step S16,
Predetermined termination processing for terminating the main routine is executed, and the main routine is terminated.

FIG. 5 shows a MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source), a MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source), and M
5 is a flowchart (STG driver main) of a main routine of an IDI driver 4 (soft sound source). This main routine includes MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source),
If the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) or the MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source) is installed as a driver in the OS 2, it is started when the OS 2 is started up, and the MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source), the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source) or M
When each driver of the IDI driver 4 (software sound source) is registered, it is activated when the integrated driver 3 instructs each driver to open.

When the main routine is started, the MI requested by the music software 1 in step S20.
DI driver 2 (soft sound source), MIDI driver 3
(Soft sound source) and / or MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source) are initialized. In this initial configuration,
The storage area in the RAM 23, the loading of each driver routine, the initial setting of registers, and the like are performed.

When the initial setting is completed, a starting factor is checked in step S21. As the activation factor,
There are the following factors: Interface IF11 opened by integrated driver 3
(MIDI out API) or interface IF12
(MIDI out API) or via the interface IF2 (MIDI out API) prepared in OS2.
DI message has been supplied. That is, the MIDI message is supplied from the music software 1. In the case of the standard-compliant MIDI driver (soft sound source), a trigger indicating the musical sound generation timing is supplied from the timer processing means 4-2 provided in the integrated tool library 4. In the case of a non-standard compliant MIDI driver (soft sound source), for example, an interrupt is generated in the OS 2 at regular intervals, and this interrupt is triggered and supplied. An input event on the sound source setting panel displayed on the display 28 and a command input event on the keyboard 29 are detected. Also, a timer event has been input. The main routine end command has been entered.

Next, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned activation factor exists, and the process in step S21 is repeatedly performed until any of the activation factors 1 to 7 occurs. If it is determined in step S22 that there is an activation factor, it is determined in step S23 which of the above activation factors, and a process corresponding to the activation factor is performed. For example, if it is detected that an activation factor has occurred,
Proceeding to step S24, the MIDI process is performed, and when it is detected that the activation factor has been generated, the process proceeds to step S25, where the tone generation process is performed. When the process is performed and it is detected that the activation factor has occurred, the process proceeds to step S27, and the termination process is performed.

Here, when using the interface IF11, the interface IF12, and the interface 2, the music software 1 or the integrated driver 3 must instruct opening of each interface prior to use. For example, when the integrated driver 3 instructs to open the interfaces IF11 and IF12 of the standard-compliant MIDI drivers 2 and 3 (soft sound source),
The interfaces IF11 and IF12 are opened, and at the same time, the streams 1 and 2 are opened as output destinations of musical tone waveform data generated by each MIDI driver. In addition, the integrated driver 3 is a non-compliant MIDI
When instructing the driver 4 (soft sound source) to open the interface IF2, the interface IF2
Is opened, and the interface IF3 is simultaneously opened as the output destination of the musical tone waveform data. Then, the opened interfaces IF11, IF12, I
A MIDI message is supplied through F2, and an activation factor occurs.

The MIDI process performed in step S24 includes a note-on process based on a note-on event of a MIDI message and a note-off process based on a note-off event. In the note-on process, a channel is assigned to a soft tone generator in response to a note-on event input, and a tone parameter corresponding to the input note-on is set in a register set for the assigned channel. , Note-on is instructed for the same channel. In the channel of the soft sound source, generation of a musical tone based on the musical tone parameter is started in response to the note-on. The parameters to be set are determined according to the selected timbre of the performance part, the pitch specified by the note-on event, and the velocity specified by the note-on event. In the note-off process, a channel that is generating a musical tone corresponding to the note-off event is searched for from among the channels of the soft sound source,
Instruct the found channel to note-off. When a program change is supplied, a process of changing the selected timbre of the specified performance part to the timbre specified by the program change is performed.

In the tone generation processing performed in step S25, the timer processing means 4-2 through OS2
The generation of musical tone waveform data for a plurality of sampling cycles is started at the timing of the trigger supplied from. At this time, the sampling frequency of the musical tone waveform data is a predetermined sampling frequency F determined by the soft sound source.
s. In addition, a non-standard compliant MI
In the case of the DI driver 4 (soft sound source), the generated sound waveform data is further collected on a frame-by-frame basis.
Processing means 4-1 for a frame completed through
The control of the transfer to the server is also performed. Furthermore, a standard-compliant MIDI driver 2 started from the integrated driver 3
In the case of the (soft sound source) and the MIDI driver 3 (soft sound source), the WAVE processing means 4 of the integrated driver 3 outputs the stream 1 or the stream 2 Musical tone waveform data is passed through

In the other processing performed in step S26, a sound source control panel is displayed on the display unit 28, and the tone of the soft sound source is selected according to the operation of the keyboard or the mouse on the sound source control panel. And tone parameters are controlled. Further, when a timer event is input, control of an LFO for adding vibrato to a musical tone according to the timer event, control of an envelope, and the like are performed. Steps S24 and S described above
When the process of step S25 or step S26 is completed, the process returns to step S21 and returns to steps S21 to S21.
Step 26 is repeated. When the activation factor is detected, the process branches to step S27, where a predetermined end process for terminating the main routine is executed, and the main routine is terminated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the main routine of the integrated driver executed by the CPU 21 (integrated driver main processing). The integrated driver uses MI for OS2.
It is installed as a DI driver, and this main routine is started when the OS 2 is started. When the main routine of the integrated driver is started, initialization is performed in step S30, and then it is determined in step S31 whether there is a MIDI driver to be turned on. As the MIDI driver to be turned on, music software 1
Open the MIDI driver requested by the user or open the MIDI driver started last time. Here, if it is determined that there is a MIDI driver to be opened, the process proceeds to step S32 and thereafter, and a MIDI driver open process is performed.

In step S32 of the MIDI driver open process, the type of the MIDI driver to be opened is determined, and the determined type of MIDI driver is opened. For example, if it is determined in step S32 that the MIDI driver is a MIDI driver for a hardware tone generator, the process proceeds to step S33, where the MIDI driver 1 (hard tone generator) is searched for, and the MIDI driver 1 (hard tone generator) is searched.
Is performed (see FIG. 4). Step S
If it is determined in step 32 that the MIDI driver is a MIDI driver for a software tone generator conforming to the standard, the process proceeds to step S34, and the MIDI driver 2 (soft tone generator) or the MIDI driver 3 (soft tone generator)
Is searched, and MIDI driver 2 (soft sound source) and M
The process of opening the IDI driver 3 (soft sound source) (see FIG. 5) is performed. Further, if it is determined in step S32 that the MIDI driver is a MIDI driver of a non-compliant software tone generator, the process proceeds to step S35, where the MIDI driver 4 (soft tone generator) is searched for, and the MIDI driver 4 (soft tone generator) is searched.
Preparations for using are made. When each MIDI driver is opened, the corresponding interface IF11, IF12 or interface IF2
May be opened at the same time.

Steps S31 to S described above
By repeating the processing of 35, the open processing of all the MIDI drivers to be turned on is performed. Therefore, in this case, NO is determined in step S31, and the process proceeds to step S36.
In step S36, the activation factor is checked. The starting factors include the following factors. Interface IF1 (MI
MIDI message was supplied via DI out API). That is, the MIDI message is supplied from the music software 1. A trigger timer interrupt for sending a trigger has been issued to the timer processing means 4-2 provided in the integrated tool library 4. Receiving musical tone waveform data generated from the MIDI driver. An input event on the sound source setting panel displayed on the display 28 and a command input event on the keyboard 29 are detected. The main routine end command has been entered.

Next, in step S36, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned activation factor exists, and the process of step S36 is repeatedly performed until any of the activation factors 1 to 7 occurs. Then, if it is determined in step S37 that there is a start factor, it is determined in step S38 which of the above start factors, and processing according to the start factor is performed. For example, if it is detected that an activation factor has occurred,
Proceeding to step S39, the MIDI process is performed, and when it is detected that a start factor has been generated, the process proceeds to step S40, where a trigger timer interrupt process is performed. When it is detected that a start factor has been generated, the process proceeds to step S41. WAVE
When the process is performed and it is detected that the activation factor has been generated, the process proceeds to step S42 to perform other processes. When it is detected that the activation factor has been generated, the process proceeds to step S43 and the termination process is performed. Here, when using the interface IF1, the music software 1 must instruct opening to the interface before using the interface. Further, when the interface IF1 is opened, the integrated driver 3 issues an instruction to open the interfaces IF11, IF12, and IF2 as the output destination of the MIDI message input from the interface IF1. Opened interface IF1
A MIDI message is supplied through the interface to generate an activation factor.

In the MIDI processing performed in step S39, when a timbre switching event relating to a MIDI message such as a program change is supplied, the timbre switching event processing shown in FIG. 8 is started and executed. Also, M
When a note-on event or a note-off event related to the IDI message is supplied, other event processing shown in FIG. 9 is started and executed. Further, in the integrated driver, a process of distributing the supplied MIDI message to the designated MIDI driver is performed, and when it is time to send event data relating to the MIDI message with respect to this process, FIG.
The timer d interrupt processing indicated by 0 is started and executed.

When a program change or a bank select is supplied in the MIDI message, the tone color switching event process shown in FIG.
The program change related to the IDI message is set to PC and stored in a register, and the bank select related to the MIDI message is set to BS and stored in a register.
MI related to program change and bank select
The DI channel (MIDICH) number is set to p and stored in the register. Next, in step S71, the MIDI driver corresponding to the timbre specified on the timbre map is determined by the program change PC and the bank select BS, and the determined MIDI driver name is set to D (p) and stored in the register. Here, the tone color map includes a sound source optimal for the tone specified by the program change PC and the bank select BS (= optimal MIDI driver), and a substitute tone source used when there is no optimal tone source (= alternative MIDI driver). Driver) is stored. As a result, when there is no software tone source of the designated tone color, the performance of the tone tone can be performed using another soft tone source or a hard tone source set as the alternative tone source. Data D for 16 MIDI channels
(P) stores the name of the MIDI driver used for generating the musical sound of each part.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S72, wherein the MIDI
MIDI in which driver D (p) is registered as an integrated driver
It is determined whether it exists in the driver. MID
If the I driver D (p) is registered in the integrated driver, YES is determined in step S72, and step S72 is performed.
Proceed to 74, but if not registered, step S7
It is determined NO in 2 and the process branches to step S73. The MI that has not been registered in the branched step S73
MIDI that can replace DI driver D (p)
The driver is specified and its MIDI driver name is D
(P) is entered in the register. Next, in step S74, it is determined whether the MIDI driver D (p) is not turned on and the MIDI driver is a newly turned on MIDI driver. Here, if the MIDI driver whose driver name is D (p) is not open in the register, YES is determined in the step S74, and the step S74 is performed.
The flow branches to 75 to open the MIDI driver D (p), and the flow advances to step S76. If the MIDI driver D (p) is already open, step S7
Step 5 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S76.

In step S76, it is determined whether or not there is an unused MIDI driver among the opened MIDI drivers.
If there is a driver, the unused M
Close the IDI driver and proceed to step S78.
Here, since the MIDI driver installed in the OS 2 cannot be closed, only the other MIDI drivers are closed in step S77. If it is determined that there is no unused MIDI driver, the process proceeds to step S78, and the process proceeds to step S72.
In addition, data indicating that each MIDI driver is operating / stopped in the MIDI driver registration map is updated in accordance with the processing content of step S77. Next, step S79
Then, the contents of the program change PC and the bank select BS stored in the registers are written in the transmission buffer allocated to the MIDI driver D (p), and the tone color switching event processing is terminated. Thus, the MIDI driver can be switched by the program change and the bank select even during the performance, and only the MIDI driver used at that time is opened, so that the RAM 23 can be used efficiently.

The MI performed in step S39
When a MIDI message other than the tone switching event is supplied in the DI processing, the other event processing in the MIDI processing shown in FIG. 9 is started, and in step S80, the event data relating to the MIDI message is set to ED and stored in the register. MID of the event data entered
The I channel (MIDICH) number is set to p and stored in the register. Here, MI other than the tone color switching event
The DI message is a message such as note on, note off, pitch bend, and after touch. Then
In step S81, the MID of the MIDI channel number p
Event data E is stored in the transmission buffer of the I driver D (p).
D is written, and the other event processing ends.

Further, the MIDI driver D set in the tone color switching event processing and other event processing.
After the program change PC, the bank select BS, and the event data ED are written in the transmission buffer of (p), the data stored in the transmission buffer is delayed and transmitted to the MIDI driver D (p). To be. This transmission timing is based on the set M
A delay time based on a calculation delay time from when data is supplied to the IDI driver D (p) to when a corresponding musical sound waveform is output, the time of the generated musical sound waveform data transmitted from a plurality of MIDI drivers is set. The MIDI driver with a large operation delay time is sent immediately with a short delay time (the transmission delay time in the transmission buffer is short), and the MIDI driver with a small operation delay time is sent after a predetermined delay. To be. From the timing when each data is stored in the transmission buffer, a timer d interrupt occurs at a timing when a delay time set according to the corresponding MIDI driver D (p) has elapsed.

When the timer d interrupt is generated, the timer d interrupt processing shown in FIG. 10 is started, and in step S90, the MIDI driver name specified by the timer d interrupt is set to d. Next, in step S91, the delayed event data ED is extracted from the transmission buffer assigned to the MIDI driver d, and in step S92, the extracted event data ED is transmitted to the MIDI driver d. In each MIDI process of step S39, an input MIDI message is written into a transmission buffer prepared for each MIDI driver, and a timer d
By transmitting the MIDI message to the corresponding MIDI driver in the interrupt processing, the MIDI message can be distributed to each MIDI driver. At this time, each data written to the transmission buffer is transmitted after being delayed by a delay time set for each transmission buffer. The time lag between the musical tone waveform data of the MIDI driver can be eliminated.

Returning to the main routine of the integrated driver shown in FIG. 6, when a trigger timer interrupt for sending a trigger to the timer processing means 4-2 provided in the integrated tool library 4 is interrupted, in FIG. Is started. When the trigger timer interrupt processing is started, a trigger is transmitted to a standard-compliant MIDI driver (soft sound source) to be triggered at the timing of the trigger timer interrupt performed in step S100. This MIDI driver is the highest priority MIDI driver among a plurality of registered MIDI drivers. At this time, the MIDI driver with the highest priority is the MIDI driver that has the slowest generation of tone waveform data among a plurality of MIDI drivers (soft sound sources). If there are a plurality of MIDI drivers (soft sound sources) with the same delay, the MIDI driver is assigned an important part (for example, a solo part).

Next, in step S101, another MI
Whether or not a trigger is sent to the DI driver at the timing is determined by each MIDI driver (soft sound source) at that time.
Is determined on the basis of the musical tone waveform data generation status and the usage rate of the CPU 21 including other applications. If it is determined that a trigger is to be sent to another MIDI driver, the process returns to step S100, and the trigger is sent to the highest priority MIDI driver at that time. In step S101, it is determined that the trigger is not transmitted when generation of musical tone waveform data of each MIDI driver (soft sound source) is sufficient, or when it is not sufficient but it is necessary to execute another application first,
This trigger timer interrupt processing ends. The activation cycle of the trigger timer interrupt processing is, for example, 10 ms.

Returning to the main routine of the integrated driver shown in FIG. 6, when the integrated driver receives the tone waveform data generated by the MIDI driver, step S4 is performed.
At 1, the WAVE process shown in FIG. 12 is started. Here, if the MIDI driver is a standard-compliant software tone generator, the integrated driver 3 receives the tone waveform data via the streams 1 and 2, and if the MIDI driver is a non-standard-compliant software tone source, the integrated driver 3 receives the tone waveform data via the interface IF3. . When the WAVE processing is started, the tone waveform data received in step S110 is entered in the register as W, and the MIDI driver name that has generated the tone waveform data is entered in the register as d. Next, if the sampling frequency of the received musical tone waveform data is different from the specified predetermined sampling frequency Fs in step S111, it is converted to the sampling frequency Fs. Further, the received musical tone waveform data is added to the musical tone waveform data generated and received from another MIDI driver.

This addition is performed by adding the received tone waveform data after the position SP (d) of the tone waveform data generated by the previous MIDI driver. That is, when the last position of the tone waveform data generated by the previous MIDI driver in the buffer memory is SP (d), the tone waveform data received at the position in the buffer memory after the position SP (d) is stored. When the musical tone waveform data generated by another MIDI driver is already written in the position, the data is added to the written musical tone waveform data and then written in the position. This makes it possible to add musical tone waveform data generated by a plurality of MIDI drivers.

Subsequently, in step S112, the progress amount of the received tone waveform data is added to the last position SP (d) of the tone waveform data generated by the previous MIDI driver, and a new value in the MIDI driver d is added. This is the final position SP (d) of the musical tone waveform data. In addition,
The final position SP (d) of this tone waveform data is MIDI
The processing is prepared for each driver, and the above-described processing is performed for each MIDI driver. When the process of step S112 is completed, the process proceeds to step S113, where the progress of each stream is checked from the last position SP (d) of the musical tone waveform stored in the buffer memory. This check is performed in order to control the priority of trigger transmission to the MIDI driver, and the priority of the MIDI driver whose generation of musical tone waveform data is delayed is increased. As a result, in the above-described trigger timer interrupt processing, the trigger transmission is preferentially performed to the MIDI driver whose generation of the musical tone waveform data is delayed. Note that the process in step S113 is for a standard-compliant MIDI driver (soft sound source), and is not processed for a standard-compliant MIDI driver.

Next, in step S114, it is determined whether or not one frame of musical tone waveform data has been generated in all the MIDI drivers in use in the frame being created, and if so, one frame is completed. If so, the process branches to step S115. Then, the tone waveform data for one frame completed in step S115 is passed to the WAVE driver via the interface IF4, and the reproduction is reserved. If the tone waveform data for one frame is not completed, the WA
The VE processing ends. At this time, the next tone waveform data is received, the WAVE process is restarted, and the tone waveform data generation process for one frame is performed again.
Until the musical sound waveform data for one frame is completed, the processing in step S115 is skipped. In addition, WAVE
The tone waveform data reserved for reproduction by the driver is read out from the buffer memory and reproduced at each sampling period (1 / Fs).

Returning to the main routine of the integrated driver shown in FIG. 6, when an input event on the sound source setting panel displayed on the display 28 or a command input event on the keyboard 29 is detected, other processing is performed in step S42. Is activated. In the other processing, the MIDI driver registration processing shown in FIG. 7A and the MIDI driver registration processing shown in FIG.
The processing of deleting the DI driver and the like are performed. In this case, when a registration button is clicked on the registration / deletion panel of the MIDI driver displayed on the display 28, the registration process is started, and the MIDI driver to be registered is specified in step S50. The specification of the MIDI driver is performed, for example, by clicking the MIDI driver name displayed on the panel. Next, in step S51, the MIDI driver designated for registration is registered in the registration map.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the registration map
IDI driver registration number data, “driver 1 data”, “driver 2 data”, “driver 3 data”,
"Driver 4 data"... Registered as shown by the MIDI driver data. The MIDI driver data includes the address of the MIDI driver program loaded in the RAM 23, the operating / stopped state, the trigger cycle, the sampling frequency, and the operation delay time (delay amount) of the musical tone waveform data.
And so on. Note that no trigger cycle data is written in the MIDI driver for the hardware tone generator. The trigger cycle data is used in the above-described trigger timer interrupt processing to determine the tone waveform data generation status of each MIDI driver (soft sound source). That is, the position SP
(D) If the amount of musical sound waveform data to be generated at that time thereafter is smaller than the amount corresponding to the trigger period, the MI
There is no need to trigger on DI drivers.
The operation delay time of the musical tone waveform data is the slowest MI
This is written to match the delay amount of the system with the DI driver, and is used to control the delay time of the event data ED in the transmission buffer corresponding to each MIDI driver as described above.

Returning to the registration processing, when the processing in step S51 is completed, the flow advances to step S52 to register the registered MID.
The calculation delay time (delay amount) of the tone waveform data of the I driver is detected, and the detected delay amount is written in the registration map. Here, the detection of the operation delay time is determined by each MI.
A test note-on event is sent to the DI driver, and the time is measured until a response appears in musical tone waveform data generated by each MIDI driver.
Next, in step S53, the delay amount of the system is determined to be the largest delay amount among the delay amounts of all the MIDI drivers entered in the registration map, and the registration process ends. The amount of delay of this system and each MID
The difference from the operation delay time of the I driver is the transmission delay time in the transmission buffer corresponding to each MIDI driver.

When a delete button is clicked on the registration / deletion panel of the MIDI driver displayed on the display 28, a deletion process shown in FIG.
In step S60, the MIDI driver to be deleted is specified. The specification of the MIDI driver is performed, for example, by clicking the MIDI driver name displayed on the panel. Next, in step S61, the MIDI driver designated to be deleted is deleted from the registration map, and the deletion processing ends. At this time, if the MIDI driver to be deleted from the registration map is operating, the corresponding interface and stream are closed, and if the MIDI driver is opened by the integrated driver 3, the MIDI driver is also closed. . The above processing is the processing performed in the main routine of the integrated driver shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the MIDI driver not used in any part is closed. However, the MIDI driver need not always be closed. Leaving it open allows for quick switching. Further, the WAVE processing means in the above-described embodiment of the present invention passes the generated musical tone waveform data to the WAVE driver through the interface IF4 supplied by the multimedia function of the OS2. Without intervention
A separate interface dedicated to the WAVE driver may be prepared and passed through it.

Further, the format of the event data in the MIDI message is such that the occurrence time of the performance event is represented by “event + relative time” which is the time from the immediately preceding event, and the occurrence time of the performance event is the absolute time in the music or bar. "Event + absolute time" expressed in time, "Pitch (rest) + note length" expressing performance data in note pitch and note length or rest and rest length, memory for each minimum resolution of performance "Solid method" that secures an area and stores the performance event in the memory area corresponding to the time when the performance event occurs
And any other format. The event data may have a format in which data of a plurality of channels are mixed, or may have a format in which data of each channel is separated for each track.

The hard disk 26 and the removable disk 27 are storage devices for storing various programs and various data. If a control program for a plurality of sound source drivers is not stored in the ROM 22, the control program for the plurality of sound source drivers is stored in the hard disk 26 or the removable disk 27 and read into the RAM 23.
The same operation as in the case where the control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers is stored in the OM 22 may be performed by the CPU 1. By doing so, it is possible to easily add a control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers, upgrade the version, and the like.

Further, a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory) drive is provided and a CD-R
The control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers stored in the OM may be stored in the hard disk 26 or the removable disk 27. Thus, C
Even if a D-ROM is used, it is possible to easily install a new control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers, upgrade a control program, and the like. This CD-ROM
Instead of the drive, various types of recording media such as a floppy disk device and a magneto-optical disk (MO) device may be used.

Further, when a communication interface is added to a hardware configuration used for implementing a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers using the computer software of the present invention, a LAN (local area network), the Internet, and a telephone can be connected via the communication interface. It can be connected to a communication network such as a line, and can be connected to a server computer via the communication network. Therefore, when the hard disk 26 or the removable disk 27 does not store the control program and various data for the plurality of sound source drivers, the control program and the data for the plurality of sound source drivers can be downloaded from the server computer. At this time, the hardware configuration according to the present invention, which serves as a client, transmits a command for requesting downloading of various programs and data such as a control program of a plurality of sound source drivers to a server computer via a communication interface and a communication network. I do. The server computer receives the command and distributes the requested program or data to the hardware configuration according to the present invention via the communication network. The hardware configuration according to the present invention is configured to receive programs and data distributed from a server computer via a communication interface and store the programs and data in an external storage device such as a hard disk 26 or a removable disk 27 so that programs and data are You will be able to download.

[0081]

According to the method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers of the present invention, a control program for a plurality of tone generator drivers is installed in an operating system, whereby an integrated driver is provided in the MID prepared in the operating system.
It is arranged below an interface (MIDI out API) capable of transmitting and receiving I messages and an interface (WAVE out API) capable of transmitting and receiving musical sound waveform data. Then, a standard-compliant MIDI driver can be registered in the integrated driver.
An I driver can be enabled. As a result, when using a MIDI driver conforming to the standard, it is not necessary to restart the system after installing it in the operating system, thereby eliminating the need for complicated work.

The integrated driver can switch the MIDI driver registered in the integrated driver according to the selection information (program change and bank select) of each part in the MIDI message received through the interface (MIDI out API). Therefore, the MIDI driver can be dynamically switched during the performance. Further, in the MIDI driver conforming to the standard, the generated tone waveform data is transmitted to the integrated driver through a stream without managing the time of the tone waveform data. The integrated driver performs time management of the tone waveform data sent from the plurality of MIDI drivers,
The musical tone waveform data sent from a plurality of MIDI drivers are added to each other and combined into one frame of musical tone waveform data. For this reason, it is not necessary for each MIDI driver to perform time management of musical tone waveform data, and the burden for that can be reduced. Therefore, the load on the CPU can be reduced.

Further, the integrated driver simultaneously operates a plurality of M
Although an IDI driver can be used, only one WAVE driver is used as the output destination of the musical tone waveform data, so that a shortage of the WAVE driver can be prevented. Furthermore, standard-compliant MID
Since the tone waveform data can be generated using not only the I driver but also a MIDI driver that is not compliant with the standard,
The musical tone waveform data of each part can be generated by MIDI drivers having various properties.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a software structure in a method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers of the present invention using the computer software of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration used for implementing a method of controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers using computer software according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a waveform interface shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart (HTG driver main) of a main routine of a MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source) for a hard sound source.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart (STG driver main) of a main routine of a MIDI driver composed of a software sound source as application software.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a flowchart (integrated driver main processing) of a main routine of the integrated driver.

7A is a flowchart of a MIDI driver registration process, FIG. 7B is a flowchart of a MIDI driver deletion process, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a registration map.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a tone color switching event process executed in the MIDI process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flowchart of other event processing executed in the MIDI processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a timer d interrupt process executed in the MIDI process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a trigger timer interrupt process executed in the WAVE process.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a WAVE process executed in the WAVE process.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a software structure in a conventional sound source system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 music software, 2 operating systems (O
S), 3 integrated driver, 4 integrated tool library,
5 MIDI driver 1 (hard sound source), 6 MIDI
Driver 2 (soft sound source), 7 MIDI driver 3
(Soft sound source), 8 MIDI driver 4 (soft sound source), 9 WAVE driver 1, 10 hard sound source, 1
1 CODEC, 20 CPU bus, 21 CPU, 2
2 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 timer, 25 MID
I interface, 26 hard disk, 27 removable disk, 28 display, 29 keyboard & mouse, 30 waveform interface, 31 AD
C, 32 DMAC1, 33 Fs generator, 34 DM
AC2, 35 DAC

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An integrated driver means installed in an operating system receives performance data generated from application-level music software via a first application programming interface provided in the operating system. Allocating to the one or a plurality of sound source driver means registered in the integrated driver means, the one or a plurality of sound source driver means generating musical tone waveform data corresponding to the distributed performance data, and generating the generated musical tone. Sending the waveform data to the integrated driver means, the integrated driver means converting the sampling frequency of the transmitted tone waveform data to a reference sampling frequency, and aligning the time positions of the tone waveform data to add the tone waveform data; A method for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers, wherein reproduced tone waveform data is reproduced at a reference sampling frequency to generate a tone. 2. The wave driver installed in the operating system for outputting the added tone waveform data at a reference sampling period via a second interface of the operating system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed by passing the data to a means. 3. A recording medium in which a control program for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers for controlling a plurality of tone generator drivers is recorded, wherein the control program includes performance data generated from music software provided in an operating system. Distributing the performance data to one or a plurality of sound source driver means registered in the integrated driver means by receiving the integrated driver means installed in the operating system via one application programming interface; A stream function for transmitting the musical tone waveform data generated by the one or more sound source driver means to the integrated driver means in accordance with the performance data, and a sampling frequency for sampling the musical tone waveform data transmitted to the integrated driver means. frequency Converting the number into a number and adding the tone waveform data by aligning the time positions of the tone waveform data; and outputting the added tone waveform data at a sampling period. A recording medium on which a control program for a plurality of sound source drivers is recorded. 4. In the outputting step, the added musical tone waveform data is sent to wave driver means installed in the operating system via a second application programming interface of the operating system. 4. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the output is performed by driver means. 5. A step of registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with respective performance data, and performance data of each performance part should be supplied based on tone color selection information for each performance part. A step of specifying a generation program; a step of supplying input performance data of a plurality of parts to the generation program specified by the specifying step for each performance part; and a plurality of generation data generated by the plurality of generation programs. Receiving the sound waveform data, mixing and outputting the mixed data, and a method for controlling a plurality of generation programs. 6. A step of registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with respective performance data; Detecting the operation delay time until the effect appears; and distributing the input performance data to the plurality of generation programs, and delaying the allocated performance data by a time corresponding to the operation delay time of each generation program. And a step of receiving the plurality of tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generation programs, and mixing and outputting the mixed data. 7. A step of receiving performance data generated from application-level music software via a first interface provided in an operating system; a step of registering a plurality of generation programs; Opening an independent interface for each of the steps; and distributing the performance data received via the first interface to the plurality of generation programs;
Supplying each of the plurality of musical tone waveform data generated by the plurality of generating programs based on the supplied performance data, and mixing and outputting the plurality of musical tone waveform data, respectively. A method for controlling a plurality of generation programs, the method comprising: 8. In the registering step, a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program can be registered as the generation program. The opening step is performed by the operating system for the standard-compliant generation program. And opening a second interface of the operating system for the non-standard-compliant generation program, and supplying the sorted performance data to a standard-compliant generation program. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the program is supplied through a unique interface, and is supplied to a non-standard-compliant program through the second interface. 9. A step of receiving performance data generated from application-level music software via a first interface provided in an operating system, and a step of opening independent transmission paths for a plurality of registered generation programs. Supplying the performance data received via the first interface to the plurality of generation programs separately; and generating the plurality of generation programs respectively generated by the plurality of generation programs based on the supplied performance data. Receiving the musical tone waveform data via the transmission path corresponding to each generating program, mixing and outputting the plurality of received musical tone waveform data, and controlling the multiple generating program. . 10. The registering step may include registering a standard-compliant generation program and a non-standard-compliant generation program as the generation program, and the opening step may be performed by the operating system for the standard-compliant generation program. Open its own transmission path, and use the second operating system
Opening the interface, receiving the tone waveform data generated by the standard-compliant generation program via the unique transmission path, and transmitting the tone waveform data generated by the non-standard-compliant generation program to the second The method for controlling a plurality of generation programs according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of generation programs are received through an interface. 11. A step of registering a plurality of generation programs for generating musical tone waveform data in accordance with respective performance data, allocating input performance data of a plurality of parts to the registered plurality of generation programs, and allocating the distributed performances. A step of supplying data to each generation program; a step of individually generating a trigger for each of the registered generation programs; and a step of generating each generation program in response to the trigger. Receiving a plurality of tone waveform data corresponding to a plurality of generation programs, mixing and outputting the plurality of tone waveform data; and comparing the progress of the received plurality of tone waveform data with each other for a plurality of generation programs. Priority is given to triggers for generators whose status is late Control method for generating multiple program characterized by comprising the steps of: controlling to live.